Networking is hard (for me) pt.2

Though I faced some moments of struggle, I also created a few good connections. I met with Kasey Coffey (a freakin’ angel) and we talked about the difference in art direction and design. She was so down to earth and it felt so nice to connect with someone who wanted to hear my journey so far and actually help. Another good connection I made was at Duggal Visual Solutions. The company in general. I fell in love with what they do because I was so familiar with it. Never in my life did I think my University Printing job would get me so excited about a large format printing shop. Of course, they do so much more and that’s actually what I want to be a part of. Their digital work and physical structures that they create are so impressive and it felt very unique (to me) overall the ad agencies. It made me think about how I’ve felt so out of place sometimes within this field. I felt like I truly connected with Duggal Visual Solutions the most because it was different from the agency lifestyle.

Olivia Whittaker | 5.20.19

Networking is hard (for me)

One of the biggest challenges I faced throughout this trip was putting myself out there to all those agency professionals. I started at the UO as a transfer student and never felt like I connected with the people in our department. I’m still graduating with only a couple of good friends after 2 years. So, seeing many students/peers know these alumni/professionals already was very intimidating. Knowing that they may have taken classes or were just friends in the past definitely made me feel like I was behind or lacking that “hey, I know you for somewhere” moment. You need to be pretty extroverted in this field sometimes and those characteristics I am still working on. Even when I did talk to them, I felt like I was lacking something, not leaving much of an impression because I don’t really know how. That self-doubt started kicking in when I saw conversations flow, pictures taken and exchanging of numbers happen. Maybe I am just not like the people in our department? I am still trying to figure out if that’s a good or bad thing for me personally. That is no bash on anyone in the SOJC, I just feel very out place in this ad agency world.

Olivia Whittaker | 5.19.19

Hustle and Bustle

I definitely hit the ground running when it came to the New York life. Of course, I wrongly told myself that I would hate the big city before I got there. But, right when I entered the maze of big buildings I felt a huge wave of excitement, curiosity, and inspiration. It’s funny and probably weird to say, but, I felt like an actual adult. The funny thing is that it was a school field trip of some sorts. When I was on my own though, I felt strong, I felt happy. There were times of overwhelming anxiety, though, when I was very tired and just wanted to be alone yet I had to stand on a moving cart full of people. My heart knows I need to spend more time there. Maybe not forever, but, definitely more than just this trip.

Olivia Whittaker | 5.18.19

I choked

I choked during the most important presentation of my life.

This month, the culmination of weeks of hard work manifested into a strategy presentation to the United Nations Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake. The presentation started smoothly, but I was tense. When presenting my third proposition, I noticed Jayathma shaking her head side to side. I immediately froze, thinking that she disliked my most audacious suggestion.

After the presentations, I was upset. I had let something simple get the best of me. Despite my emotions, I decided to introduce myself to Jayathma and ask her for feedback on my presentation.

After introductions and small talk, I asked Jayathma for her reaction to my third proposition, explaining that I noticed her shake her head no. To my surprise, she started laughing along with her team. She then told me that in Sri Lanka (her country of origin), people shake their heads when they are interested in a conversation. Her team chuckled along, chiming in to say that they had experienced the same dread as me in the past.

I’m proud of myself for biting my lip and asking for feedback. While this situation turned out uniquely comical, I always want to to learn from my successes and failures and form relationships with people around me while doing so.

Simon Calem

more than ad

The beautiful part of NYC is the full range of professional opportunities. Being from Portland, I know the few big ad firms in the pearl district. NYC is a different experience. Agencies, (large and small), production houses, design studios – all these companies are in the big apple. My biggest takeaway was that anything is possible, in the least cheesy way. With the right mindset and work ethic, things can happen. NYC calls.

-Simon Calem

The Worst Plane Ride

4:30 a.m. driving to the airport. “Mom, I feel sick”. She told me I was probably just nervous. I’m not a nervous person so I quickly ruled that out. Then it happened, good thing I brought a garbage bag. It turns out my body picked the perfect day to give me the 24 hour flu. I held it together in the security line and after taking a bite of Gabe Keim’s breakfast burrito it started happening again. Now, I won’t go into great detail because that’s gross, but I will explain the extent of my ailment. At the time I thought I had food poisoning, but I discovered otherwise when Gabe Keim decided to get sick as well the night before Wieden. I was back and forth between my seat and the bathroom the entire flight and actually took a nice nap in one of the three stalls for about 25 minutes. Upon arrival, my cousin picked us up and took us to his apartment in Brooklyn. Ready to explore the city, I promptly laid on his couch, threw on Thor: Ragnorak and watched TV with him for the rest of the night. Quite possibly the worst day of my life, but we made it. Sorry to Gabe and that poor woman in the aisle seat.

-Corey

Self - Care

New York taught me something new.

How incredibly important it really is to value and care for yourself.

Not only care for the work that you do, and the things that you say. But also for yourself. The trip gave me a lot of free time to go about the city on my own and be with my own thoughts. 

I sat in the subway frantically thinking, “Am I going to make it on time?” “I hope I don’t embarrass myself.” “You still have so much time, and so much work!” and as I thought about it more, I didn’t allow myself to really understand the opportunities in front of me, as well as how my feelings were affected by my lack of confidence.

I found myself in Times Square, at approximately 2:30 in the morning. Did I regret that decision? When I woke up the next day definitely. But that walk helped me think about how I was really feeling.

I was scared, nervous, excited, lonely, optimistic. A flurry of emotions that honestly I couldn’t have recognized on any other day. But I did that day. So I slowed down. I looked at the people around me. I looked at the big lights surrounding me. And I got some amazing street food. A time for myself.

Take time for yourself. Let yourself feel the emotions you are feeling, because they are a lot to try to push down. Especially considering how this term is coming to a close. Be kind to yourself, and try to be kind to others along the way.

- Mason Hughes

Listen Up!

Here are some big pieces of advice I heard over the week on the trip

If you’re going to take risks, you have to bet on yourself first.

Take every interview possible.

Mind over matter always. 

Know your worth, but don’t let pride get in the way of growth.

Give yourself briefs! For all you know, that could be why someone remembers you. 

And the biggest of all.

Be comfortable with the uncomfortable

Our futures are all uncertain, and that scares us. We don’t know what is really going to happen next, whether that thing is going to help us along the path towards the future we want, or if it will bring us towards an uncertain path we didn’t think about taking.

Maybe we should take that path anyways, see what happens. 

Go for the unknown, because that is when the best things happen.

- Mason Hughes

Finding My Place

This trip was all about learning for me.

Learning about the city, learning about the industry, and learning about where I fit among it all. The fact that I was able to see the even just a few different agencies is beyond what I would think possible before graduating. 

New York was absolutely beautiful, so many different people, so many different ways of creative expression and it really showed me how fitting an agency can be for me. Being able to see the creative process from the start to the end really changed a lot for me, showing me how what my part in the process means for a campaign.

This trip also showed me how perfect New York is for me. The city is so vibrant and loud. The energy felt natural to me, like it was exactly where I was supposed to be. Though, I might have gotten lost a few times just trying to get udon noodles. Worth it in the long run. 

We will see what the future holds, and hopefully New York is a part of it. 

- Mason Hughes 5-23-19